Osteospermum Plant Named &#39;KLEOE14215&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Osteospermum  plant particularly distinguished by medium sized flowers, white ray florets, violet-blue disc florets, and a horizontal spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Osteospermum ecklonis

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLEOE14215’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Osteospermum, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEOE14215’. ‘KLEOE14215’ originated from a cross-pollination conducted in March 2007 in Macquarie Fields, Australia between the proprietary female Osteospermum variety ‘x07.1.1’ (unpatented), and the proprietary male Osteospermum variety ‘x07.1.5’ (unpatented).

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown in a greenhouse for evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘KLEOE14215’ was selected from the group of plants in July 2008 in Cobbity, NSW, Australia. In September 2008 in Cobbity, NSW, Australia, ‘KLEOE14215’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative cuttings. ‘KLEOE14215’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttings.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Plant Breeder's Rights for ‘KLEOE14215’ were applied for in Europe with the Community Plant Variety Office on Nov. 21, 2013, Application No. 2013/2954; in Switzerland on Dec. 9, 2013, Application No. 13-2921; and in Norway on Jan. 17, 2014, Application No. 1323. ‘KLEOE14215’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. Medium sized flowers;

2. White ray florets;

3. Violet-blue disc florets; and

4. A horizontal spreading growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers. The photograph is of a four-month-old plant grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in September 2012. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEOE14215’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on six-month-old plant grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in May 2014. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.         -   Botanical.—Osteospermum ecklonis.         -   Common.—Osteospermum.         -   Designation: ‘KLEOE14215’ -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary female Osteospermum variety             ‘x07.1.1’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—The proprietary male Osteospermum variety             ‘x07.1.5’ (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Form and habit.—Herbaceous perennial but usually cultivated             as an annual.         -   Growth habit.—Horizontal spreading.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.         -   Height (from top of soil, including inflorescence).—About             10.0 cm.         -   Width (including inflorescences).—About 50.0 cm to 60.0 cm.         -   Propagation.—Vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—14 weeks (in the             spring).         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—3 weeks (in the spring).         -   Root description.—Freely rooting. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Shape.—Dentiform.         -   Apex.—Obtuse to acute.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire to serrate.         -   Immature color.—Upper surface: RHS 143A Lower surface: RHS             143B.         -   Mature color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A Lower surface: RHS             137C.         -   Length.—Up to 5.0 cm.         -   Width.—Up to 3.0 cm.         -   Texture and appearance (upper and lower surfaces).—Leathery,             glabrous.         -   Petioles.—Absent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS 138B. -   Stems:     -   -   Total number of branches per plant (calculated at the base             of the plant).—About 3 to 5.         -   Length.—Up to 20.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.6 cm.         -   Internode length.—2.0 cm to 3.0 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 144C.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Anthocyanin.—Absent. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Length.—About 1.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 0.7 cm.         -   Color (at tight bud just before the ray florets unfold).—RHS             143A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Single.         -   Blooming habit.—Spring to autumn.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—15 to 20.         -   Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant.—About 2             weeks.         -   Fragrance.—Faint.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 7.0 cm.         -   Inflorescence depth.—About 1.0 cm.         -   Disc diameter.—About 1.2 cm. -   Disc floret:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—25 to 30.         -   Shape.—Tubular lanceolate.         -   Tube color.—Closed: RHS 101B (outer surface at an immature             state) Mature: RHS 96B (both inner and outer surface).         -   Length.—About 0.5 cm.         -   Diameter (at apex).—About 0.1 cm.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Apex color.—RHS 98A.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Base color.—RHS 155C.         -   Margin.—Entire. -   Ray floret:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—About 14.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS NN155D Lower surface: RHS 76B with             RHS 97A stripes.         -   Length.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 0.9 cm.         -   Apex.—Obtuse to acute.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth Lower surface: Smooth, shiny. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—3.0 to 4.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Texture.—Rough, glabrous.         -   Color.—RHS 143B. -   Phyllaries:     -   -   Texture.—Rough, glabrous.         -   Color.—RHS 143A.         -   Arrangement.—Single.         -   Observed quantity per plant.—About 14.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 143A Lower surface: RHS 143B.         -   Length.—About 1.0 cm.         -   Width.—About 0.15 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Rough Lower surface: Smooth. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Location: On the disc floret Stamens: Quantity:             Numerous Shape: Filamentous Filament length: About 0.5 cm             Filament diameter: Less than 0.05 cm Anther: Shape:             Lanceolate Color: RHS N186B Length: About 0.2 cm Diameter:             Less than 0.05 cm Pollen: Color: RHS 17B Amount: Abundant.         -   Gynoecium.—Location: On the base of the ray florets Pistils:             Number: About 14 Length: About 0.5 cm Diameter: Less than             0.05 cm Stigma: Color: RHS 79A Shape: Tapering filamentous             Length: 0.2 cm Diameter: Less than 0.05 cm Style: Color: RHS             83C Length: 0.2 cm Diameter: Less than 0.05 cm. -   Fruit and seed set: None observed. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect     resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEOE14215’ is a distinct variety of Osteospermum and is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic ‘KLEOE14215’ ‘x07.1.1’ ‘x07.1.5’ Habit Horizontal spreading Mounding Mounding Flower size Medium Large Large Diameter of the plant 50.0 cm to 60.0 cm 100.0 cm 100.0 cm

‘KLEOE14215’ is most similar to the commercial Osteospermum variety ‘KLEOE03106’ (unpatented), also commercially known as FlowerPower™ ‘White’. Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEOE14215’ ‘KLEOE03106’ Growth habit Horizontal spreading Upright 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Osteospermum plant designated ‘KLEOE14215’ as shown and described herein. 